If you have never directed a race, you just might not understand how much work and stress doing so creates. The somewhat nutty folks at GWTC direct a Summer Trail Race Series (4 mostly single track trail races), a Summer Track Series (8 track meets) and an Annual Club Race Series that consists of 16 races or more, including a track mile, a trail marathon, a paved marathon and a 50 Mile race. For the most current details about both GWTC and other race opportunities in the area, visit the GWTC race calendar under the "Races" tab. Just to give you a flavor:

Swamp Forest Trail Marathon, Half Marathon and 6.5 Mile Run. Date: January 2019. Location: Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park, Enter off Miller Landing Road. The brain child of Bobby York, this event winds through both single-track and multi-use trails in Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park, including the Swamp Forest, Coon Bottom, and Oak Hammock Loops. Jim and Kristin Halley studied under Bobby and then took over the director reigns in 2017 and 2018 and did a great job. Bobby and Heather York plan to direct the event again in January of 2019.

Billy Bowlegs 5K.Date: January 12, 2019. Location: FSU/FAMU Engineering Building, Innovation Park. Bill Hillison and Larry Giunipero direct this well-run race to benefit the FSU Faculty and Friends Scholarship Fund. The race became a club race in 2002, but has been around since Leitch Wright and Larry first directed it in 1985. The race that year started and finished near Tully Gym and Mike Long Track. Since 1994, the scholarship program has awarded more than 144 scholarships for students, averaging about $500 per award. The course is virtually traffic free as it winds its way through Innovation Park. It climbs a couple of hills, but nice long downhills give runners a chance to start the year with a good 5K time.

GWTC 30K-15K. Date: January 19, 2019 Location: Old Centerville Road. Old Centerville Road makes this race a very special event. After 12 years of directing the 30K, race directors Jerry and Jackie McDaniel announced 2016 decided to pass the baton after 2016. Among other great things they moved the race to the red clay hills of Old Centerville Road where it has been a big success. They also added a 15K in 2006. New directors, Zach Deveau and Jillian Heddaeus, put on a flawless performance in 2017 and are preparing for 2018. The race begins in front of the Retreat at Bradley’s Pond which, in exchange for a little rent money, opens its doors for registration, awards, beer, chili and warmth. The hard-packed dirt road is hilly, but a special place to run with spectacular old oaks protecting much of the course. Of course rain falling on that red clay can turn it into a tough mudder race. Once known as the “Ides of March,” the race was first run in March of 1978 under the direction of Tim Simpkins, who also won the inaugural race. The 15K was added in 2006. The race's home was the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge for many years.

The Tallahassee Marathon has been a constant force here since March 8, 1975 when it started with humble beginnings and two runners on Natural Bridge Road. Since then, it has also started at Silver Lake, Campbell Stadium, Killearn Estates, Wacissa Springs, Tallahassee Nursery and the FSU Track. It has been flat and it has been hilly. But it has always been carefully tended to with great volunteers and quality race directors. The Tallahassee Half Marathon was first run on January 18, 1998. One hundred and forty nine runners finished the first Tallahassee Half Marathon. That number has grown since with

Prior to Jay Silvanima’s debut as race director in 2007, the most runners to finish the marathon was 129 in 2005. Jay believed the marathon could grow however and he set to work making that happen. Over the next few years, he signed Nancy Stedman up to help him (and be his wife) and together they grew the marathon to its largest number of marathon finishers (359) in 2014 and three years in a row with over 300 finishers. The marathon made extensive use of the paved bicycle trail to St. Marks during these years and started and finished at or on the FSU Track, running along side Doak Campbell food ball stadium. Jay and Nancy also pushed the half marathon to new heights, crossing the 600 number in 2011 and reaching a high of 728 in 2013.

After Jay and Nancy decided to step down, Jon Manry and Eric Godin stepped up to direct the 2016 edition. They decided it was time to bring the race downtown and create maximum exposure for Tallahassee. A brand-new course fulfilled their goal of showing off all of Tallahassee, including its "rolling hills." Before the marathon rolled around however, Jon had to step down as director. Elizabeth Rosario stepped up and generated an enormous amount of excitement for the marathon.

The crowds and the excitement in 2016 were great, but the course was really tough. The half set a record for participation, while the full dropped perhaps because of those hills. 2017 was Ely's solo show as director, although she had a great crew helping. Some of the hills were eliminated from the race to make it faster. The half grew again, but the full dropped again. The race set a record for fund raising. Ely stepped down as director after 2017.
Sheryl Rosen took charge in 2018, working with an experienced race committee. Some additional hills found themselves gone making the races faster again. That good news was offset by the promise of strong storms blowing through race morning. And while the hard rain did wait for most of the half runners to finish, it did hit pretty hard while a lot of runners and volunteers we still on the course. As many as 30 marathon entrants decide to scale back to the half primarily because of the weather. One hundred and fifty-three hearty souls stuck it out though and finished the marathon. Seven hundred enjoyed the half marathon. Many of them listened to the marching chiefs from FSU play music to help them up the final hill.

Plans are already in the works for 2019. Completion of some park and road areas will make for improvements in the course again, including the elimination of a number of additional hills. Sheryl will be back as race director.

Flash 12K/6K. Date: February 16, 2019. Location: San Marcos de Apalache State Park, St. Marks. After seven years as director, Mark Priddy turned the job over to Keith Rowe in 2018. The race has grown steadily since Mark took charge in 2010, and Keith has been a big factor in making the event such a success. So, it is no surprise that Keith did a great job in his 2018 debut. In 2011, the race start moved to San Marcos de Apalache State Park, located at the end of the St. Marks Trail near the confluence of the St. Marks and Wakulla Rivers. The course runs through the St. Marks neighborhood before jumping on the St. Marks Rails to Trails path. Post-race fun usually includes a gathering for lunch on the water at Riverside Cafe. The Flash 12K race was a Joe Dexter creation in 1989 and he directed every race until Mark took over in 2010; Nadine Dexter was there with Joe every year from 2000 until 2009, the same year the 6K race made its debut..

Springtime 10K/5K/1M.Date: March 30, 2019.Location: Monroe Street and Jefferson. This is GWTC's downtown springtime event, and you should never miss it. Sean and Mandy Hudson took over the race in 2014. They studied under the previous directors Judy Alexander and Brian Corbin in 2013 to learn the ins and outs of the event, and it showed as they did a great job from 2014 - 2016. 2017 was another transition year as the Hudsons passed the responsibility to the Scharlepps, Rhys, Rachel and Zack (also club president). They more than met the challenge in their debut and many more good things will follow. The hills and the community feeling along the race course in Myers Park will assure that you have wonderful stories to tell about this race. The post-race party gives everyone a chance to say hello to folks they have not seen since Springtime 2018. The race was first run in 1976 as a 4-mile race under the direction of Andy Burns, and became a 10K race the very next year. The 5K was added in 2008. Check out the race web page at http://www.springtime10k.com/.

Palace Saloon 5K.Date: April 20, 2019.Location: Messer Field (start) to the Palace Saloon (finish). One of GWTC's longest running races, the Palace Saloon 5K was first run in 1975 and has kept a reputation of being a fast and fun event ever since. The 2018 race will be under the direction of Mark Priddy, who has a lot of good experience directing the Flash. in 2017, the final stats showed 1043 finishers, including top finisher Stan Linton who finished in a time of 15:16 (fastest time since 1994) and top female finisher, 12 year old Ani Veltcheva, winning her second Palace title, this time in 17:58. The Palace Saloon 5K is traditionally one of the fastest 5K fields in town. The 2016 edition was the State RRCA 5K Championship. Mike Burns made his mark on the Palace Saloon 5K after taking over as race director in 2013. The race exceeded 1300 finishers his first three years, including a record 1389 in 2013, before dipping to just over 1000 last year. With a big crowd and a great celebration at the end, this race is a lot of fun – well, other than the uphill from just past the 2-mile mark to 2.5 miles or so. You have to love that long downhill finish though and it's a great way to follow the Springtime 10K.

Great Potluck Bash 4-Mile and Open Mike Social. Date: June TBD, 2019. Location: Forest Meadows Park & Athletic Center. GWTC prides itself in supporting youth running through the Chenoweth Endowment Fund, as well as many other ways. This event, as much social as competitive, serves as a fund-raiser and an opportunity to recognize the outstanding high school track-and-field and cross-country athletes in the Big Bend area with scholarship awards. You cannot wear a watch during this prediction run and you can't beat the low-country boil and pot luck dinner after the race. The off-road race was first held in 1998 and is under the direction of the Chenoweth Committee: Doug Bell, Myrna Hoover, Mary Register, Toma Wilkerson, David Altmaier and David Yon. The trails of the Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park are beautiful, and the perfect place to hold this race because in addition to the beauty they offer, there are a lot of opportunities to change up a course. The Chenoweth Endowment Fund has now awarded more than $135,000 in scholarships to 223 recipients on behalf of GWTC.

Breakfast on the Track Mile. Date: August 18, 2018. Location: Maclay School Track. Talk about marathons being tough races if you want, but a well-run mile on the track requires as much courage as any distance. Still, even this is fun. Runners are seeded into 12-14 heats based on their projected finish times. Felton, Bonnie and Jamie Wright have put on a great show each year as race directors, including serving pancakes for breakfast. The first year for this race was 1998 (Jamie was 4) and the Wrights have directed every race.

Miller Landing Madness Date: August 25, 2018. Location: Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park. This event, which includes an 8K, a 5K and a 3K, has become the kickoff for the high-school cross-country season and the signal for GWTC members that it's time to start racing again after a summer hiatus. After a few years on the Miccosukee Greenway (2004-2007), when it was known as the Miccosukee Madness, the race moved to the gorgeous Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park behind Forest Meadows in 2008. The race is a great chance for GWTC members and local high-school runners to mix it up together. Jeanne O'Kon, Tom Perkins and Bill Lott have teamed up as race directors to create a great event that gives you a real taste of Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park, including a run through a water hazard built for the Red Hills Horse Trials. The race began as a 5-mile event called the Tom Brown Bash in 1977 under the direction of Lee Cohee. (Yes, it ran through Tom Brown Park until 2003.)

Run for Sickle Cell 5K & Tim Simpkins 1 Mile Date: September 2018.Location: Jake Gaither Community Center. In 2017, GWTC and the Sickle Cell Foundation decided to join forces and take the Sickle Cell 5K and Tim Simpson 1 mile run to a new level. For one thing, the course is very fast and provides participants with a great chance to run personal bests. Paul Guyas has been working on ways to make it even faster. The volunteers for this race have historically been great. So, the new partnership rattled the planet in 2017 and Hurricane Irma was sent to see what was going on. Fortunately, she got a good enough view from far away to spare the city, but she was close enough to keep some folks away on race day.
The Sickle Cell 5K has been around for more than 35 years and most of us have some great memories of running through the Jake Gaither neighborhood, but its best days await in the future. Jeff Rollins, Paul Guyas, Velma Stevens and David Yon worked to lay the foundation to make those days happen. Proceeds from the race go to help families dealing with Sickle Cell Anemia. In 2018, the race will be on the GWTC Grand Prix circuit and hopefully hurricane-free.

Prefontaine 5K. Date: September 15, 2018. Location: Silver Lake Recreation Area. Doug Bell will direct this race for the 4th time this year. Like the runner this event is named for, the course is always off road and challenging. The course has traversed a number of different trails through the Apalachicola National Forest around the Silver Lake Recreation Area, but they all seem to find more sand than a runner would like. Dave Rogers birthed this event on September 25, 1976, shortly after the legendary Steve Prefontaine died. Dave was known for his colorful race starts (shooting an apple off of Carmen's (his wife) head and one year adding a 20k/10K Midnight Moonlight Run through the forest, marking the trail with candles in bags of sand. Mike Eakin and Jeff Doherty followed as directors. Jeff Nielsen, Race Director for 13 years, always brought his own mark to this race by finding an extra loga bit of sand or a "push up" contest to keep "smiles" on the runners' faces. The race has also become a favorite venue for local high-school teams to celebrate cross country running. After Doug Bell was a big help to Jeff in 2013, Jeff turned the event over to him in 2014. The result was "terrific."

Women’s Distance Festival 5K/1 MileDate: September 22, 2018. Location: Optimist Park 1800 E Indian Head Drive. Lisa Unger is the director of this quality event that celebrates women in sports. The women often outnumber and out run the men in this race through Indian Head Acres. It has a unique twist in that the women start 5 minutes before the men. The 2012 women’s winner ran 17:05.88 (the women’s course record). Kayleigh Tyerman apparently did not think that was fast enough and in 2013, she ran with the men and smashed the 17:00 mark finishing in 16:51. The race began with Dot Skofronick and Shirley Bull as race directors in 1982.

Pine Run 20K. Date: October 6, 2018. Location: Tall Timbers Research Station. (13093 Henry Beadel Dr.) Pine Run's "new" home at Tall Timbers Research Station has worked out great! The Tall Timbers Research Station & Land Conservancy is dedicated to preserving the distinctive, rural landscape of South Georgia and North Florida and its traditional land uses not just in Tall Timbers, but by developing good land conservation practices for all to use. The course through this beautiful property is tough, but beautiful. Gary and Peg Griffin are perfect directors for this race.

Turkey Trot 1M/15K/10K/5K.Date: Thanksgiving Day. Location: State Office Complex in SouthWood. 2016 was the 41th running of this race and had the largest number of finishers, with more than 6000 crossing a finish line. It is GWTC’s largest race and has become an essential family meeting place for area runners and walkers on Thanksgiving Day. It has been around since 1976, and race directors David and Mary Jean Yon do their best to give you a caring way to burn calories before Thanksgiving dinner. 2009 saw the introduction of the Turkey Trot Heroes – runners who gave a little extra to the great causes the race supports – and that program took off in 2010 to help the race set fund raising records for the Boys and Girls Clubs, The Shelter and the Refuge House. Race webcite: Tallyturkeytrot.com.

Tallahassee 10 and 5 Mile Challenge. Date: December 2, 2018. Location: Hawks Rise Elementary School (use parking lot entrance off of Meridian Road). For many years this race was an annual event in Killearn Lakes on a tough out and back route along Deer Lake. For safety reasons, Reid Vannoy moved the race from Killearn Lakes to Ox Bottom Manor. The start is at Hawks Rise Elementary School, but the current course certainly preserved the "Challenge" in the race with a few hills that will sap runners' strength. The 5-mile race gives runners not wanting to go 10 miles an option. Vicky Verano and Ana Sutherland have a couple of years under their belts as race directors and are doing an excellent job. The race began as a 20K in 1977 under the direction of Leitch Wright and became a 10-mile run in 1988. The 5 mile event was added in 2004.

Tallahassee Ultra Distance Classic. Date: December 8, 2018. Location: Wakulla Springs State Park. After many years of a slightly longer than 2-mile loop, a new 10K loop course was used in 2012. The course leaves the beautiful grounds of Wakulla Springs State Park and includes a section along Highway 61, The Wakulla Springs Road. 2013 saw the greatest number of finishers in the event's history with a total of 84. In 2014, Nancy Stedman and Jay Silvanima took over as directors of this event. The event was first run in 1980 and was directed by a committee of volunteers. Don’t let the distances scare you; this is a very doable event and a great experience! The web page with more detail is www.tallahasseeultra.com/.

Tannenbaum 6K.Date: December 15, 2018. Location: Apalachee Regional Park. Herb Wills and Brian Corbin teamed up to create a brand new GWTC race in 2011. This race showcases “one of the finest cross-country courses in the Southeast.” GWTC joined forces with Florida State University and Leon County to help plan and create this great venue. 2013 was the 3rd edition of this Race as Herb Wills took sole possession of the title "Race Director" in 2013. It is an outstanding venue for racing and a great way to wrap up the year's racing.